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Father Reginald Russo, OFM Cap., died late Monday night at Shadyside Hospital from post-COVID pneumonia. He entered eternal life in the presence of fellow Capuchin friars, including his older brother, Father Francis X. Russo, who prayed with him as he died. Father Reginald, given the name Carmen at his birth, was born on July 30, 1941, the sixth of seven children born to John and Theresa (Izzo) Russo of Mahoningtown, Pennsylvania.
Fr. Reginald was baptized at St. Lucy Church in Mahoningtown and educated in the local public elementary school before following his older brother by enrolling at St. Fidelis High School and College Seminary in Herman, Pennsylvania, in 1955, where he received both his high school and college education.
In 1961, following his second year of college, he went to Saint Conrad Friary, Annapolis, Maryland, where he was invested with the Capuchin habit and entered the novitiate. It was there that he received the religious name Reginald, by which he would be known for the rest of his life. He made profession of the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on July 14, 1962, before returning to St. Fidelis to complete his college studies.
After many fruitful years as a Capuchin, because of declining health and physical limitations, Fr. Reginald moved to the newly built St. Augustine friary in November of 2020. On Jan. 16, Reginald began an extended struggle with the COVID virus. He was hospitalized and stabilized and had recovered enough that he could be transferred to a rehabilitation facility, but quickly returned to oxygen deficiency and hospitalization. As the attempts to stabilize his medical condition became necessarily more aggressive, it became evident that only a miraculous intervention would restore Father Reginald to health. Father Reginald understood that he was dying and refused burdensome and useless medical interventions.
Father Reginald told his family and friar visitors that he would not survive and that he was in God's care, and that he was ready to go to his heavenly home. This past Monday, Feb. 15, as his family gathered around him, he said his farewells, consoling his visitors with the promise that they would be together again in heaven. He entered eternal life just before 10 p.m., returning in full faith to the God whom he had served for more than 50 years as a friar and a priest.
Father Reginald was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Mary (Calabrese) and Rose (Evanoski)' and his brother, Anthony.
He is survived by his sister, Irene (Scaramazza) of Butler, Pennsylvania, and two brothers:, Father Francis X. Russo, OFM Cap. of Washington, D.C., and younger brother Vincent, of New Castle.
The friars of St. Augustine Friary will receive Father Reginald's body on Friday afternoon, Feb. 19, offering their fraternal prayers before transferring his body to St. Augustine Church of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Lawrenceville, where viewing will occur from 7 until 8 p.m. A Vigil Service will be held in the church at 8: p.m. The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. in St. Augustine Church. Burial will follow in the friars' plot at St. Augustine Cemetery.
Lord God, you are attentive to the voice of our pleading. Give Fr. Reginald eternal rest, O Lord, and may your light shine on him forever. Let us find in your Son comfort in our sadness, certainty in our doubt, and courage to live through this hour. Make our faith strong through Christ our Lord. Amen.
